Cultural Immersion at Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation

This project was promoted to international students and U.S. study abroad students alike with the aim of providing opportunities for these students to:

• Learn about Native American culture, history, and current issues;
• Gain leadership experience;
• Sharpen intercultural skills and awareness;
• See a new part of the country; and
  
• Share information about one's home culture.

The group met for three pretrip sessions to discuss various topics: a brief overview of Native American history, boarding schools, white privilege, intercultural communication, stereotypes of American Indians in the cinema, and contemporary Native Americans.

The week on the reservation included at least four visits and/or field trips per day focused on: history and culture of the three ethnic groups living on the reservation, environmental issues, economic development, health care, traditional and catholic spirituality, education, and connecting with the community. The project ended with a final group evaluation and a presentation to the Contemporary American Indians class.